WarnerMedia U.K. Appoints Joel Kennedy as Director of Local Film Production and Acquisitions

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentUGC, the long-running French film studio whose biggest hits include “Amelie Poulain,” has successful branched into TV series by acquiring stakes in a flurry of talent-driven production companies such as Itineraire Productions (“HPI”) and Headline Pictures (“Call My Agent!’s” British remake) in the U.K.Opting for a different approach to Gaumont’s or large media groups like Mediawan, the company has been building its label UGC Series as a coalition of independently-ran production companies under the leadership of Laurence Lenica, a veteran UGC executive, and Franck Calderon, a well-known writer, producer and former boss of TF1 Productions.So far, UGC Series comprises six banners. Along with Headline Pictures and Itineraire Productions, these include Henri Debeurne’s Next Episode whose credits take in “Christmas Flow” for Netflix and “J’ai tué mon mari” for NBCU and TF1; UGC Fiction, which Calderon is leading with Karine Evrard and Sophie Exbrayat, and which has delivered the ratings hit ”Jacqueline Sauvage, It was Him or Me”, and most recently “La Traque” for TF1.

Anna Marie de la Fuente At a time when journalists are under attack in many parts of the world and the odious term “fake news” has become part of the global lexicon, Spain’s Mediacrest presents the topical drama series “Fake” at a key event in France-based Series Mania, the invitation-only Spain Pitching Breakfast, on Thursday.Leading the charge is industry vet-producer Gustavo Ferrada (“Klaus,” “Nobody Knows Anybody”), Mediacrest’s executive director of fiction, who joined the fast-rising Spanish production company in January.“Fake” is one of five selected projects from leading Spanish production companies seeking European partners, comprising Fedent España, Friki Films, Onza, Vertice 360 and Mediacrest. Created in-house by Mediacrest’s deputy head of fiction, Carlos Molinero and senior scriptwriter Nicolás Romero, the Strasbourg-based series of six 52-minute episodes follows a high-powered couple as their once idyllic relationship turns toxic.

Vivienne Chow A wider representation of gender roles, more training opportunities for women filmmakers, and reaching out to women audiences are all ways forward to promote women-centric stories in Southeast Asian cinema, say women filmmakers from the region.The lively discussion involving Thai-American director Pailin Wedel (“Hope Frozen”), Indonesian actor Marissa Anita (“Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens”), Malaysian producer Lina Tan (“Sa Balik Baju”), and Filipino writer and producer Tanya Yuson (“Trese”) was staged by Netflix Asia on Wednesday.It concluded that streamers that can reach a wider audience online have already been making a positive impact on the industry as they help to find new audiences abroad, while also creating more opportunities for women filmmakers and diversity in storytelling. Works by the four panelists are all available on Netflix, which has been upping its game in Asia, particularly through its investment in local originals.Gender representation across Southeast Asia film and television content can vary widely.

Oleksandra Zaritska woke up to a phone call on Feb. 25 at 5 a.m. On the other end of the line was her mother informing her Russia's war on Ukraine had begun.

Two vehicles have been seized by Greater Manchester Police officers during separate incidents in Eccles and Stockport. In Eccles, a driver of a Volkswagen Golf failed to notice a marked police car behind him when he went through a red light on Barton Lane.

Hank William Jr‘s wife has sadly passed away.

Manchester United have now interviewed Ajax boss Erik ten Hag about potentially becoming the club's next permanent manager in the summer.

Mark Tuan has dropped his latest single, ‘lonely’.The singer, who is also a member of the K-pop boyband GOT7, unveiled the song today (March 24) alongside an accompanying “visualiser”, which sees Tuan performing from a solitary, black couch in the middle of an otherwise empty room, with the word “lonely” written across the floor.“I like it better when I’m lonely, lonely, all alone / I never needed you to hold me, hold me, keep me close / And you know I gave you everything /Thеn you went and said to me / That you like it bеtter lonely, lonely, all alone” he croons on the chorus.‘lonely’ was co-written by Tuan, alongside Matty Michna and lilspirit, the latter of whoa slo co-wrote the singer’s last two singles. The track was also produced by Michna, alongside frequent Young Thug collaborator BL$$D, JordanXL and Xavi.The new song is the third solo single from Tuan since he made his first foray into English music as a soloist in November 2021 with ‘Last Breath’.

Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns has revealed he has admitted himself to a rehabilitation centre following a driving accident.According to a police statement cited by The Sydney Morning Herald, Johns, 42, was charged with high-range drink-driving after a collision with a vehicle in the Australian New South Wales Hunter region.The report says that Johns had been driving an SUV northbound on the Pacific Highway when his car allegedly collided with another vehicle travelling southbound. A roadside breath test conducted by attending paramedics allegedly returned a positive result.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefJana McKinnon, Markella Kavenagh and Yerin Ha have joined the cast of Australian TV series “Bad Behaviour.”Filming of the four-part show, which is adapted from the acclaimed book of the same name by writer Rebecca Starford, has now completed in Victoria, Australia. It is expected to play on Australian streaming platform Stan later this year.McKinnon (“We Children of Bahnhof Zoo”) stars as scholarship student, who arrives at Silver Creek for a year of character building at the wilderness campus of an exclusive girl’s boarding school.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticA frothy wish-fulfillment comedy that takes a few wildly unpredictable turns, “Spin Me Round” serves up an al dente satire of corporate retreat culture by following the manager of a popular pasta restaurant on an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy, where nothing goes as she expected. Amber (Alison Brie) imagines something along the lines of the company’s TV commercials, in which handsome Tuscan Grove founder Nick Martucci (Alessandro Nivola) serves pasta in the shade of the family villa — the ideal backdrop for a straightforward rom-com scenario.

The 2022 Academy Awards will have something a little different for this year’s telecast: an all-star band to underline the show, featuring pianist Robert Glasper, headline-making drummer Travis Barker, legendary lead singer Sheila E., and music director Adam Blackstone.

Line of Duty and Our House star Martin Compston shared a collage made from pictures of his wife as he celebrated her birthday online.

Sir Alex Ferguson name-checked two first team players after the infamous 2011 Manchester derby loss at Old Trafford that saw Manchester City dismantle Manchester United 6-1.

Matt James is opening up about how he and Rachael Kirkconnell reconciled. On Wednesday, Cosmopolitan published an excerpt of the former Bachelor’s upcoming book, First Impressions, in which he details how he and his girlfriend found their way back to each other after several controversies.

Monday Night Football crooner raised two children – daughter Katie Williams-Dunning and son Samuel Williams.Williams-Dunning died in 2020 in a car accident in Tennessee. Her husband, Tyler Dunning, was in the vehicle and survived with critical injuries. Last month, Samuel Williams claimed in a video that his dad and his half-sister, Holly Williams, placed him in a conservatorship days after Williams-Dunning died in August 2020, which he wanted out of.words just can’t describe how bad i feel for the williams family.

Here are your morning Manchester United headlines for Thursday, March 24.

Moon Knight director Mohamed Diab feels Western cinema has a way to go in its depictions of his native Egypt.

Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman are ready to make a new movie together.

Cole Sprouse cozies up to girlfriend Ari Fournier at the premiere of Moonshot held at E.P. & L.P. on Wednesday night (March 23) in West Hollywood, Calif.

Rihanna covers her baby bump with a sweet pink dress while out in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon (March 23).

The 2022 Grammys will be paying tribute to the late Stephen Sondheim.

Conor McGregor has been arrested.

Rachel Zegler WILL be at the Oscars this weekend!

Jared Leto hits the black carpet at the premiere of Morbius held at Callao Cinemas in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday night (March 23).

An uninsured provisional driver who risked getting behind the wheel unsupervised has been arrested in Ashton. Things got worse for the driver, whose vehicle had already been seized for the previous offences, failed a roadside drugs test for cannabis and was later detained.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Macadelic, Mac Miller's estate has released the mixtape on vinyl for the first time ever. The 10th anniversary deluxe edition of Macadelic includes tri-color LPs, a 11x17 poster, and an all-white embossed cover.

WarnerMedia has hired Joel Kennedy to the role of Director of Local Film Production and Acquisitions, UK and Ireland. Based in London and starting today, he will report to Neil Marshall, SVP Theatrical Distribution, WarnerMedia UK and Ireland.